Jon Stewart blasts Trump admin for 'oil heist' on Venezuela and notes key detail omission
Jon Stewart has blasted Donald Trump's administration for what he called an "oil heist" on Venezuela.
Speaking in the opening monologue of The Daily Show, Stewart broke down the reasons for the United States to enter Venezuela following the president's claim that the administration would "run" Venezuela.
After a clip of Howard Lutnick speaking about the mineral wealth of Venezuela, Stewart likened the administration to "conquistadors", and then claimed the Trump regime had formulated an "oil heist" on Venezuela.
He said, "These motherf***ers are going full conquistador in front of our eyes. And they might have gotten away with it, too, but our country is a democracy, so bad news, Donroe, your little oil heist is going to have to get past the Democrats and Inspector Schumer."
Stewart would dub Trump "Donroe" after the president mentioned the Monroe Doctrine, a document introduced by president James Monroe in 1823.
The foreign policy, which gives the US a position of opposition to any colonialism in the Western Hemisphere, has seemingly been adapted by Trump. The president would call it the "Donroe Doctrine" in a speech shortly after the strike on Venezuela.
The Daily Show host would also note that Democratic Party representatives were not briefed on the strike before it happened or after it had concluded. Trump did, however, confirm oil companies were given advance notice of the Venezuelan strike and capturing of President Maduro.
The lack of briefing for Democratic Party candidates was pinpointed by Stewart, who suggested the president simply does not respect the party enough to make them aware.
Stewart joked, "I don't want to say the president doesn't respect the Democrats, but he did not brief them before or after this attack. You can say that was in the interest of national security and operational confidentiality, apart from this one group he did speak to."
The show then cuts to a clip of Trump speaking aboard Air Force One, where he confirmed oil companies had been briefed before and after the operation took place.